vinegar or nickles, for a few minutos ; let it 
dry in the sun, and it will assume ths color 
of bright copper.” 
THE FIRST UNITED STATES CENTS, 
DOUGHNUTS WITHOUT EGGS 
VESTS FOR LADIES, 
In the Rural New-Yorker, dated Dec. 
7, 1872, 1 noticed an answer to a former ques¬ 
tion ; the roply stating that the first Ameri¬ 
can Cents were coined in the years 1791-8. 
Now, 1 beg leave to differ with F. S., and at 
the same time, to thank him for attempting 
the explanation, and say that American centa 
were coined as early as 1783, if not earlier, 
(hut not by the United States,) by eoveral 
Stntea, mid are called ‘ 4 Colonial Cents.” The 
first cent coined by tho authority of the 
United States was struck at the New Haven 
(Conn.) Mint, in the year 1787. They bore on 
the obverse side a sun dial, with the sun 
above it, the legend “ Fugio,” 1737 ; and re¬ 
verse, thirteen circles linked around a small 
circle, upon which aro the words 14 United 
States,” and in tho center, “We are one,” 
and beneath tho motto. 
Tins coin is called the 
In Rural New-Yorker of Jan. 18th. I see 
a request for recipe for Doughnuts, (no eggs.) 
Put into a large dish 3 pints of flour, mix 
with this \\i teacups sugar, 2 teaspoons 
cream tartar, a little salt and grated nutmeg. 
Put int o a quart, bowl 1 teaspoon soda, pour 
on a teacup boiling water, a, piece of butter 
size of a small walnut; when melted add 1 1 ' 
teacups milk and pour into the dry part, b 
rolled out and cut, in stripsabout an inch wide, 
and then twisted, they eoom to be relished 
better than any other way. Cook in hot fat. 
Mrs. J. W ayi, A NO. 
YotXNd Indies who desire to look well at lit¬ 
tle expense would do well to consider t he pos¬ 
sibility of wealing vests. In the greater 
number of the costumes this Winter, vests of 
silk and velvet have boeu introduced and 
have attained a popularity really deserved, 
for they are really very handsome and afford 
n pleasing contrast in material. The effort, 
is now made to introduce vests into lighter 
costumes and for full dress. We give a few 
examples. A vest of blue satin, sleeveless, is 
t rimmed with white blonde, Valenciennes, or 
point applique lace. Tbe lace forms a bor 
dor, composes a ruffle about the neck and is 
laid in Jabot form down the front. On each 
side, just"below tho waist, arc little pockets 
edged with lace. The lace is also used around 
the arm holes. The vest is cut to set easily. 
There must be uo suspicion of tight fitting; 
perfect ease is essential to the beauty of the 
vest. 
A similar vest is made of rose-colored satin 
and trimmed with black lace. In using lace, 
it is bettor, if genuine lace is too expensive, 
to use either black or bloude ruches, which 
are very pretty and even more becoming than 
lace. 
There is another form of vest called Mm 
Parure Ophelea. It is made to wear over 
other waists and is not connected under tho 
The upper part of tho waist and 
TO CORRESPONDENTS 
Emma P.—We do not think it wise to sacri¬ 
fice one's health for the sake of being fash¬ 
ionable, nor to gratify fashionable friends, no 
matter how very kind they may have been. 
It is better and wiser to be sensible. 
SIMPLE BOILED INDIAN PUDDING 
EFFECTS OF LIGHT ON FRESH MEATS. 
Tile preservation of fresh meats is a sub¬ 
ject of importance to every family, and 
therefore interesting to tho public, and the 
object of this note is to inquire of t he Rural 
New-Yorker (a prolific source of useful 
knowledge), whether light does 
not effect fresh meat, injuri- 
ously ? The bad effect of light /y 
upon potatoes and many other /}.- - •Jy*-" 
vegetables, also Upon butter W||| wW 'f* 
and many other substances, is i lwPf; ijl^ i 
well known to all. Did probe | I:§(§:*. '. 
bly it, is not. generally known | M j|K : 
whether fresh meats, ns beef, „ xii'frTiiliUY 
oork and dressed fowls, will )lp|BL™ 
keep as well in a light room as 
in a dark one, when the atrnos- 
pheric conditions of both are 
| the same. 
From some recent experiments of my own 
I I am inclined to believe that a dark room is 
better, or that light in some degree damages 
fresh meat,—whether it bo frozen or not. 
I Perhaps the subject has previously been dis¬ 
cussed In the Rural New-Yorker, but 
not to my knowledge; and if the editor or 
any of his scientific correspondents, will an¬ 
swer the above Inquiry in that journal a ben 
efit will thereby be conferred upon the public. 
—J. W. Taylor 
Doubtless some of our correspondents have 
facts that will throw light, upon this subject. 
One pint of fine Indian meal ; half a pint of 
wheat lloui- ; two ounces of butter; four 
eggs ; a. little salt. Pot, the wheat, Indian 
meal and butter together, and pour over as 
much warm milk as will make a thick batter. 
Add the salt. Whisk the eggs, and pour 
i, “Mind your own 
business,” This coin is called tho 44 Franklin 
Cent,” I believe, because of tho motto. Amor- 
icon cents and half cents were struck by a 
number of the States regularly between the 
years 17S5 and 1783 ; but these cannot be 
called United States cents, because struck by 
individual States, and aro called “Colonial 
Cents.” 
The so-called 44 Washington Cent,” coined 
iu 1791-2, were merely models issued by pri¬ 
vate persons in honor of Washington, but 
not by the United States. As to the number 
coined, F. 9. stated 200, which Is also incor¬ 
rect, as thousands have been struck and the 
dies have not been destroyed, but are pre¬ 
served by the Philadelphia mint at present. 
The coinage of 1791 being tho first of the reg¬ 
ular series, had a largo number of varieties, 
(say twenty-five or thirty) or changes in type 
and dies ; 1794 being again very dissimilar to 
the coinage of tho preceding year, cents and 
half cents being very thick and having let¬ 
tered edges, viz. : — “Oae Hundred for a 
Dollar.” 
In the latter part of 1790 a great change 
was again made by leaving out tho Liberty 
caps and polo, which change continued the 
same till T808 ; the latter part of this year, 
too, a remarkable change was made by plac¬ 
ing a Turban Head on centa and tho Head 
reversed ; the figures, 1-100, on tho reverse 
of all previous cents being for the first time 
omitted. 
In regard to the coinage of 1720, F. S. is 
again mistaken, as there was a largo number 
coined in that year ; but the number in cir¬ 
culation was small, owing to tho fact of a 
large purchase of thorn made by an Eastern 
firm, to be perforated and presented to the 
chiefs of African tribes in exchange for slaves, 
the coins being bright, and seldom seen by 
them before, were prized as valuable orna^ 
moots ; therefore, the coins (not the negroes) 
wore very scarce, and at present tho highest 
priced cent ever issued. 
arms. rue upper pare n»u 
shoulders is cut like a vest, except that the 
front is surplus with rovers of velvet. At the 
waist each side is cut away in long points. 
Tlie whole, is edged with laec. 
MUSLIN VESTS 
For colored silks or summer wear, there are 
nothing prettier than muslin vests. They are 
cut easily and loosely but defining the figure I 
nicely Trim them first with a band of in¬ 
serting, then with a ruffle of lace, or of mus¬ 
lin edged with lace. They may have either 
short sleeves, or Marie Antoinette sleeves, 
finished with a ruffle and ornamented with a 
knot of ribbon. This Is simply one design. 
Every lady with taste and ingenuity cau easily 
adapt it to any materials she may desire or 
may have. A few of these vests prettily 
made will render a toilette fresh on every oc¬ 
casion. 
If desired, muslin overskirts may be made 
to accompany the vests, but this is not essen¬ 
tial One will answer for full dress and the 
overskirt of t.he dress be worn on other oc¬ 
casions. 
COSTUME FOB EARLY SPRING 
We have just seen a suitable costume for 
early Spring. It is made of dark, olive-brown 
silk, rather dull in the shade but coming out 
rich and warm in the sun. or by gas-light 
The skirt is walking length, trimmed with 
three bias ruffles, the second one being the 
them into the batter. Rinse your puddin" 
bag, and flour it well inside. Pour in the 
mixture ; leave a space of two or three inches 
at the t- p to allow it to swell. Tie it tightly ; 
boil it two hours. Serve it with butter and 
molasses. E - n * 
COVERED WOOD BOX OR 0HE3T. 
We give herewith an illustration of a, chest 
or box of oak for wood or other uses. It is 
stuffed on top and at the aides, and uphol¬ 
stered with black cloth, scarlet, blue, green, 
or purple bands worked in Mexican embroid¬ 
ery arc added above tho cloth. Tho present 
design is in Louis XIII. style, and is very 
fashionable. While doing duty ns a wood- 
box, it serves also for a seat, and remains a 
handsome piece of furniture. 
TO COLOR YELLOW ON COTTON. 
For 6 lbs. of goods, dissolve IK lbs sugar 
of lead in hot water; dissolve in a tub of 
cold water 12 ounces bichromate of potash ; 
dip tho cloth first, into tho water ; wring out; 
then int o the potash and wring out ; clip back 
and forth until the color suits; wash thor¬ 
oughly in warm water. 
To color orange, dip the yellow, while wet, 
into boiling lime water, made by putting a 
piece of st-ono lime the size of a, man’s fist 
into a pint of water ; when slaked and set- 
Med turn off from the settlings and heat 
ITALIAN CREAM 
Mrs. Jennie T. sends us a newspaper slip 
containing the following, which she says she 
has proved good : 
Boil one ounce of isinglass in one pint of 
water until reduced one-half ; when cool stir 
it into one quart of cream, four wineglasses 
of Modcria, one-half pound of sugar, the juice 
of one lemon ; strain it and pour it into 
molds. This will make one large or two 
After tho year 1808 tho Turban Head pre¬ 
vailed on our cents until the last were coined 
in 1814. In 1815 there was no copper coinage ; 
the reason assigned was that the agents of 
the United States noglected to send any cop¬ 
per from Europe, hence none were made be¬ 
tween 1814-10, whon tho typo was again 
oliangcd to what is known as tho Fillet Head, 
which was continued with but few variations 
until the early part of 1S57, thus making 18U5 
tbe only year in which no copper was coined- 
So endeth the much-varied tale of the First 
American cents. 
Bergen Point, N. J. E* 
bottom of the waist on the sides. The front j 
has a brown, olive-brown, velvet vest, button¬ 
ing down to the bottom of the basque. On 
each side is a silk ruffle setting out and at¬ 
tached by a milliner’s fold to the vest. The 
bottom of the basque has a facing of velvet, 
and a milliner’s fold of silk. The sleeves are 
coat-shaped, with a velvet, cuff which laps 
over in a point, on tho upper side and is 
fastened with two buttons, the points edged 
with two milliner’s folds. Around the neck 
is a turn-down velvet collar. The buttons are 
of silk with crochetted center. The costume 
is simple, tasteful and inexpensive. 
WAISTS OF ONE MATERIAL AND SLEEVES OF ANOTHER. 
There is a fashion which has gained ground, 
having nothing but novelty to recommend it; 
we refer to the practice of making waists of 
one material and sleeves of another. Tho 
favorite goods are silk and velvet. 1 he waist 
of velvet and sleeves of silk. The effect is al¬ 
ways that of an unfinished garment, and in 
the street gives an uncomfortable idea of the 
distribution of heat. We speak of this lashion 
to beg you not to follow it,as it sets at variance 
so many fundamental la ws in the matter of 
dress, and because there is nothing whatever 
in its favor except that it is t he fashion, which 
is not reason enough for adopting any style 
whatever. 
NOVELTIES. 
In novelties we have noticed a number of 
new trimmings for opera cloaks and party 
| cream tartar and one soda ; one pint sweet 
milk ; rub nil well together, except the milk 
mid soda ; dissolve the soda in tho milk and 
wet up; roll them thiu and cut in square 
I with a knife; prick them well with a fork 
and bake quick ; then put them in a warm 
place and dry for two or three hours, until 
they become brittle. They will be found 
very nice to eat wiih coffee. 
Mrs. Minnie Rose. 
UBE SEASONED WOOD 
IVe put up a new heating stove about six 
weeks ago, and since then have been greatly 
tried by a black fluid that runs down the - ' 
TO COLOR BLUE 
To every 2 lbs. goods, take alum, 5 ozs.; 
cream tartar, 3 ozs.; boil the goods hi this, 
with water enough to cover them, for one 
hour. Take them out and put them into a 
kettle of warm water and boil, adding extract 
of indigo until the color suits. This answers 
R. Guthrie’s inquiry of Jan. 18th. J. M. 
and over the floor, unles- some vessel ia kepb 
underneath. There aie two elbows in the 
stove pipe. What is tho cause ? What can 
we do to prevent this annoyance ?—f. w. 
The cause is due to the condensation of the 
steam in the pipe, which arises from using 
green wood. The remedy is to secure a more 
direct draft, or use well seasoned wood. 
TO COLOR PICKLES BRIGHT GREEN 
Clara writes the Maine Farmer :— 4 Pur¬ 
chase your vinegar, and be careful to see that 
it is drawn from casks with painted heads 
and lettered with the manufacturer’s name ; 
or make the vinegar yourself with sulphuric 
acid (oil of vitriol) and water. Steep a lot of 
old coppers in your vinegar, or add to it a 
tablespoonful of verdigris. This mixture will 
cause your cucumbers to assume a bright 
green color. Use them freely, and in a few 
HOW TO KEEP WORMS OUT OF DRIED 
FRUIT. 
When it, is stored, after drying, put be¬ 
tween every half bushel of it a largo handful 
of bark of sassafras and strew a liberal supply 
on top. I will insure that the worms will not 
trouble It. 
TO WARM TWO ROOMS. 
I wish to warm two rooms, separated by 
a wall, with, one stovo ; cun any of the Rural 
readers tell me how to do it ? I thought of 
making a miniature furnace by inclosing the 
stovo in sheet iron and conveying the neat 
through an opening in t he wall by means of 
a pipe. at. &• l* 
THE FIRST NICKEL CENT 
I see some one asserts in the Rural New- 
Yorker that the first nickel penny was 
struck off in 1857. I think ho is mistaken— 
that it was in lcoo. I have been a collector 
of coins for over ten years. Floyd M 
Croton Falls, N. Y. 
